Rydberg states in the D layer of the atmosphere and the GPS positioning errors

The noncoherent radiation in the frequency range 0.8–8.0 (GHz) formed in the D layer of the ionosphere at high solar activity due to transitions between Rydberg states is considered. The emitting layer thickness located 80–110 km above ground surface is estimated. A complicated irregular behavior of the frequency dependence of the radiation intensity for different values of å electron concentration n _e and temperature T _e due to different characteristics of electron scattering on the nitrogen and oxygen molecules is revealed. The dependences of the flux power of UHF radiation from the D layer in the indicated frequency range on the concentration and temperature of free electrons are calculated. It is shown that, at a frequency of ν = 1.44 GHz, the UHF radiation spectrum features a characteristic waist point, the position of which is almost independent of the electron temperature T _e ; i.e., a one-parameter dependence of the power flux on the electron n _e density takes place. In the frequency range of 4.0–8.0 GHz, the radiation spectrum exhibits a family of curves that, for each value of n _e and a wide range of T _e , give rise to a relationship known as the “bottleneck.” It was found that, with increasing frequency, the bottleneck moves upwards along a curve described by a quadratic dependence on the radiation frequency. For a frequency of ～5 GHz, and a certain range of temperature T _e and electron concentration within 5 · 10³ cm^?3 < n _e < 2 · 10⁴ cm^?3, an almost linear dependence of the UHF radiation power on n _e is observed. A comparative analysis of GPS signal delays at frequencies ν _f ⁽¹⁾ = 1.57 and ν _f ⁽²⁾ ≈ 5 GHz for various states of the ionosphere is performed. It is shown that, under the same condition, the use of the second frequency is more advantageous and informative. The ways of further development of the theory and experiment in studying the role of quantum resonant properties in the distortion of global satellite positioning system signals and in solving the fundamental problem of their elimination are discussed.     

Growth,structure, and some transport properties of topological insulators based on bismuth chalcogenide single crystals

Single crystals of topological insulators—bismuth chalcogenides Bi₂Te₃, Bi_{2 ? x} Sn _x Te₃, Bi₂Se₃, and Bi_{2 ? x} Cu _x Se₃ with different charge-carrier densities—are grown by the modified Bridgman method. Their composition and structure are investigated and temperature dependences of the electric resistance and magnetic field dependences of the Hall voltage are obtained.     

Searches for the decay D 0 → µ+µ− at hadron colliders

Investigations of rare charmed-meson decays are used to test the Standard Model and to perform searches for new physics beyond it. Advances made in searches for the rare decay D ⁰ → µ⁺µ^? in experiments at the HERA and Tevatron hadron colliders and at the LHC over the last few years are considered.     

Reconstruction of the coordinate dependences of quadratic susceptibility tensor \hat \chi ^{(2)} (z, ω1 ± ω2; ω1, ±ω2) components for the one-dimensionally inhomogeneous absorbing medium

A method for the unambiguous reconstruction of the spatial profiles of all components (except for ?? _zzz ) of the quadratic susceptibility complex tensor {ie165-2} (z, ??₁ + ??₂; ??₁, ??₂), which is responsible for the sumfrequency generation in a one-dimensionally inhomogeneous plate is proposed and proven for the first time. Such reconstruction is possible if the symmetry of the medium provides the diagonal character of the linear permittivity tensor {ie165-3} (z, ??). The procedure involves the measurement of the complex amplitude of the new wave with the frequency ??₁ + ??₂ that is reflected from the plate for a certain interval of the angles of incidence of the wave with the frequency ??₂. The reflected wave results from the nonlinear interaction of the wave with frequency ??₂ and the wave with frequency ??₁ that exhibits the normal incidence. A similar approach can be used to determine the profiles of the components of the quadratic susceptibility tensor {ie165-4}(z, ??₁ ? ??₂; ??₁, ? ??₂), which is responsible for the difference-frequency generation.     

Determination of the spatial dependence of the complex components of the tensor \hat \chi ^{(2)} (z, ω 1 + ω 2; ω 1, ω 2) of a medium with one-dimensional inhomogeneity using a biharmonic wave

It is proven that the spatial profiles of different components of the complex quadratic susceptibility tensor $\hat \chi ^{(2)}$ (z,?? ₁+?? ₂; ?? ₁, ?? ₂), which is responsible for the generation of sum-frequency wave in a plate with one-dimensional inhomogeneity, can be reconstructed unambiguously. A reconstruction technique is proposed. To implement it, one has to direct a plane biharmonic wave with monochromatic components at frequencies ?? ₁ and ?? ₂ onto a plate and measure (in some range of the angles of incidence) the complex amplitude of the sum-frequency wave reflected from the plate. Changing the plane of incidence of the initial wave and (or) the polarization of its monochromatic components, one can determine the coordinate dependences for more than half of the components of $\hat \chi ^{(2)}$ (z,?? ₁+?? ₂; ?? ₁, ?? ₂). This reconstruction can be performed if the symmetry of the plate medium provides a diagonal form for its linear permittivity tensor. The technique proposed implies measurement of the intensities of the sum-frequency waves generated under special conditions using an auxiliary reference plate; this approach allows one to do without complex phase measurements.     

The potential energies of the Na** + He quasi-molecule

The special features of the behavior of the potential energy surfaces of the system comprising a highly excited A** atom and a neutral B atom with a filled electronic shell were thoroughly analyzed. This was done using the integral variant of theory combined with the generalized finite radius potential method correctly describing the scattering of a weakly bound electron by the B atom. The method allows P scattering to be taken into account. This scattering causes the additional splitting of potential energy surfaces into separate groups of interacting terms classified according to the projection m of the electron angular momentum l onto the quasimolecular axis. Calculations of the nl(^{2s + 1}Λ) state potential curves of the Na** + He quasi-molecule (n, l, and Λ are the principal quantum number, angular momentum, and its projection onto the molecular axis, and s is the spin of the system) were performed. The calculation results were compared to those obtained by other authors.     

Heat conductivity and the Lorentz number of the Sm1−x GdxS “black” phase

Measurement of the heat conductivity and electrical resistivity of two Sm_1−x Gd_xS compositions with x=0.1 and 0.14 is reported within the 80–300 K interval. An analysis of experimental data on the electronic component of heat conductivity permits a conclusion that the d subband of “heavy” carriers in the conduction band of these materials lies above the s “light”-carrier subband. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 26–29 (January 1999)     

Transitions between Rydberg states of diatomic molecules in slow collisions with atoms

A close analytic representation has been found for the Green function of highly excited diatomic molecule in the framework of the multichannel quantum defect method. This expression has been used to describe the potential energy surfaces of the quasi-molecule X ₂ ^* +A. The specific behaviour of the terms of this system has been studied as a function of the angular orientation of the moleculeX ₂ and of the distanceR between the molecule and atomA. The terms have been found to have quasi-crossings responsible for the transitions when particles suffer collision. Some terms located near the continuous spectrum boundary, when the distance varies, cross the spectrum boundary and pass into auto-ionization state. Calculations have been made for the system H ₂ ^* +B, whereB is an inert gas atom. Cross-sections of the vibrational transitions occurring under slow atom-molecule collisions have been evaluated.     

Vibrational and rotational excitation of molecular ions by slow electrons

The exact asymptotic solution of the problem for scattering of slow electrons by positively charged ions M⁺ is obtained using the multichannel quantum defect (MQD) method and results of the adiabatic approximation.     

Coupling of the processes of dissociative recombination and scattering of slow electrons by molecular ions

A theory of dissociative recombination has been developed which makes possible an investigation of this process in connection with the problem of scattering of slow electrons by molecular ions. The simultaneous influence of direct (non-resonance) interaction and inhomogeneity of the electron continuum (due to the multichannel character of electron motion in the field of a molecular ion) is taken into account. The results obtained complement the resonance configuration interaction theory based on the Bardsley method and are important for interpreting the experimental data.